Bridge-pier.



PATBNTED 00T. 18, 1904.

B. F. .HUDSON.

vBRIDGI'I PIER. A'PPLIOATIQN Him) 4316.27.: 1903.

lo MODEL.

UNiTED STATES Patented october 1s, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE..

BENJAMIN F. HUDSON, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-'HALF TO LILLIE M. TUROOTTE, OF ERIOK, OKLAHOMA TERRI- roRY.

BRiDGE-PIER.

sPEciFroA'rroN forming part ef Lettere-Patent Ne. 772,615, dated october 18, 1904.

Application iiled August 27, 1903.

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. HUDSON, a

j 'citizen of the United States, residing at Oklatherefor.

The object in View is the production of a pier which shall be susceptible of being positioned with facility and'notliable to be injured by climatic conditions.

With this and further objects in view the invention consists kin combination with a bridge superstructure of hollow piers supporting the same and a bell-shaped base for the lower end of said pier.

It further consists of a pier comprising a hollow shaft, means at the base supporting the same, a cement filling within said shaft, and a cushion between the fillingv and the walls of the shaft.

It still further consists incertain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

v In the accompanying drawing, the figure represents a'vertical transverse sectional view through a bridge, illustrating two of my present improved piers, one in elevation and the other in'longitudinal section.

, In the present art it is common to provide hollow metal piers and to mount the-same upon an artilicial foundation, which in practice has been foundineflicient in that such foundation is liable to permit lateral displacement of the base of the pier. I overcome this objection by employing Van anchor fixed to a hollow pier designed to form a base therefor 4and constructed in such manner to facilitate the lowering of the pier itself below the soft substances of the bed supporting such pier.

I have'illustrated the present improved serial No. 170,981.A (No model.)

structure in the accompanying drawing, in whichl indicates anyA bridge superstructure mounted upon piers 2 2, each consisting of a hollow metallic yshaft threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper end of a bellshaped base 3. The base is formed in its upper end with an annular internal shoulder 1I for receiving the endof the shaft 2, the outer edge of the shoulder 4E lying flush with the inner surface of said shaft and the opening of the bell 3 tapering gradually from the inner face of said shoulder. to the outer or lower edge of the bell. The said shoulder 4 forms Y a seat upon which the column 2 is supported, thereby relieving the'screw-threads in base 3 and pier 2 of shearing strain incident to the weight of said column. Said seat i likewise prevents the said column passing into the enlarged hollow base 3, asit might if the screwthreads should lbe stripped by superposed weight on or of the column.v Within the shaft 2 is arranged a lining of strawboard or other suitable cushion 5, which extends from the upper end of the shaft to a point below the frost-line. bell 3 are iilled with'cement or other suitable filling 6, which adds yweight and rigidity to the structure, the cushion 5 expanding andv contracting relative to the expansion and contraction of the metal shaft 2 for compensating for suchmovement of the particles of metal and preventing injury to the filling 6.

In positioning a pier embodying the features of the present invention the shaft 2, with the bell 3'connected therewith, is permitted to sink into the water until the lower edge of the bell strikes against the soft substance in the river-bed, and then a force-pump is connected with the upper end of the shaft 2 and water is forced' out through pipe 2 andy out beneath the annular edge of the bell 3.

As the sand and other substances pass out bebeing positioned beneath the-softer substances' will be prevented from liability of lateral dis- The shaft 2 and hollow of the'A placement. After the pier has been positioned the water within the shaft 2 and bell 3 is removed and the filling 6 is placed therein, the cushion 5 having been previously positioned within the shaft 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bridge, the combination with asuperstructure of a hollow pier supporting the same, filling within said pier and cushion means between said filling and the inner walls of the pier.

2. A bridge-pier comprising a hollow shaft and cushion-lining within the same and an artificial-stone filling inside said lining.

3. In a bridge-pier the combination with a hollow shaft of a strawboard lining within the same and an artificial-stone filling therein.

A. A. bridge-piel' comprisinga hollow shaft, a non-metallic lining therein, and a ller within said lining.

5. A bridge-pier, comprising a hollow shaft, a hollow bell-shaped anchoring-base connected with the lower end of the shaft for supporting it, and an annular internally-arranged shoulder for supporting the lower end of the shaft upon the bell, the flaring lower portion of the bell forming a broad anchoring-support for the pier.

6. A bridge-pier comprising a cylindrical hollow shaft, a cylindrical cushioning-lining within the same, and a filling within said shaft and lining.

7. A bridge-pier comprising a shaft, a removable base secured thereto, a cushion sccured within the upper portion of said shaft, and a filling within said shaft and extending the entire length of the shaft and cushion.

8. A bridge-pier comprising a cylindrical shaft, a diverging removable base secured to said shaft, a cylindrical cushion retained within the upper portion of said shaft, and a filling retained within said cushion and shaft.

9. A bridge-pier comprising an inner and outer casing, a removable base secured to the outer casing, and a cement filling inside of said casings.

l0. A pier comprising a base having an under cavity, or hollow portion, of relatively large sectional area, a supporting-shoulder therein, a hollow column supported on said shoulder, and a composition filler within said base and column.

11. A pier comprising a hollow base, a hollow column supported upon and secured thereto, and a filler within said base rising into said column.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in presence of' two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. HUDSON.

Witnesses:

J. L. MITCH, W. P. HAwKINs. 

